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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2015

Systems Engineering Management Plan NASA Traffic Aware Planner Integration Into P-180 Airborne Test-Bed

NASA's Traffic Aware Planner (TAP) is a cockpit decision support tool that provides aircrew with vertical and lateral flight-path optimizations with the intent of achieving significant fuel and time savings, while automatically avoiding traffic, weather, and restricted airspace conflicts. A key step towards the maturation and deployment of TAP concerned its operational evaluation in a representative flight environment. This Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) addresses the test-vehicle design, systems integration, and flight-test planning for the first TAP operational flight evaluations, which were successfully completed in November 2013. The trial outcomes are documented in the Traffic Aware Planner (TAP) flight evaluation paper presented at the 14th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, Atlanta, GA. (AIAA-2014-2166, Maris, J. M., Haynes, M. A., Wing, D. J., Burke, K. A., Henderson, J., & Woods, S. E., 2014).

Maris, John↗
NASA NTRS1991

Regenerative Life Support Systems (RLSS) test bed performance - Characterization of plant performance in a controlled atmosphere

By growing higher plants for food, lunar and Martian manned habitats will not only reduce resupply requirements but obtain CO2 removal and both oxygen-production and water-reclamation requirements. Plants have been grown in the RLSS at NASA-Johnson in order to quantitatively evaluate plant CO2 accumulation, O2 generation, evapotranspiration, trace-contaminant generation, and biomass productivity. Attention is presently given to test conditions and anomalies in these RLSS trials; areas where performance must be improved have been identified.

Edeen, Marybeth↗
NASA NTRS1977

The long duration exposure facility - A test bed for space technology development

The long duration exposure facility (LDEF) is being developed by NASA to accommodate, using the Shuttle, a class of technology, science, and applications experiments which require a free-flying exposure in space. The LDEF offers an attractive approach to experiments which require long-term exposure in space. LDEF missions up to 10 years duration are possible and requested by researchers. Attention is given to the LDEF concept and the operations, plans for technology testing in space, and aspects of investigator participation.

Dibattista, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS2005

SHERPA Electromechanical Test Bed

SHERPA (Strap-on High-altitude Entry Reconnaissance and Precision Aeromaneuver system) is a concept for low-cost-high-accuracy Martian reentry guidance for small scout-class missions with a capsule diameter of approximately 1 meter. This system uses moving masses to change the center of gravity of the capsule in order to control the lift generated by the controlled imbalance. This project involved designing a small proof-of-concept demonstration system that can be used to test the concept through bench-top testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and eventually through a drop test from a helicopter. This project has focused on the Mechatronic design aspects of the system including the mechanical, electrical, computer, and low-level control of the concept demonstration system.

Wason, John D.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Wideband Digital Signal Processing Test-Bed for Radiometric RFI Mitigation

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is a persistent and growing problem experienced by spaceborne microwave radiometers. Recent missions such as SMOS, SMAP, and GPM has detected RFI in L, C, X, and K bands. To proactively deal with this issue, microwave radiometers must (1) Utilize new algorithms for RFI detection (2) Utilize fast digital back-ends that sample at hundreds of MHz. The wideband digital signal processing testbed (WB-RFI) is a platform that allows rapid deelopment and testing various RFI detection and mitigation algorithms.

signal processing↗
NASA NTRS2015

Wideband Digital Signal Processing Test-Bed for Radiometric RFI Mitigation

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is a persistent and growing problem experienced by spaceborne microwave radiometers. Recent missions such as SMOS, SMAP, and GPM have detected RFI in L, C, X, and K bands. To proactively deal with this issue, microwave radiometers must (1) Utilize new algorithms for RFI detection (2) Utilize fast digital back-ends that sample at hundreds of MHz. The wideband digital signal processing testbed (WB-RFI) is a platform that allows rapid development and testing various RFI detection and mitigation algorithms.

Bradley, Damon C.↗
NASA NTRS2006

NASA Stennis Space Center Integrated System Health Management Test Bed and Development Capabilities

Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) is a capability that focuses on determining the condition (health) of every element in a complex System (detect anomalies, diagnose causes, prognosis of future anomalies), and provide data, information, and knowledge (DIaK)-not just data-to control systems for safe and effective operation. This capability is currently done by large teams of people, primarily from ground, but needs to be embedded on-board systems to a higher degree to enable NASA's new Exploration Mission (long term travel and stay in space), while increasing safety and decreasing life cycle costs of spacecraft (vehicles; platforms; bases or outposts; and ground test, launch, and processing operations). The topics related to this capability include: 1) ISHM Related News Articles; 2) ISHM Vision For Exploration; 3) Layers Representing How ISHM is Currently Performed; 4) ISHM Testbeds & Prototypes at NASA SSC; 5) ISHM Functional Capability Level (FCL); 6) ISHM Functional Capability Level (FCL) and Technology Readiness Level (TRL); 7) Core Elements: Capabilities Needed; 8) Core Elements; 9) Open Systems Architecture for Condition-Based Maintenance (OSA-CBM); 10) Core Elements: Architecture, taxonomy, and ontology (ATO) for DIaK management; 11) Core Elements: ATO for DIaK Management; 12) ISHM Architecture Physical Implementation; 13) Core Elements: Standards; 14) Systematic Implementation; 15) Sketch of Work Phasing; 16) Interrelationship Between Traditional Avionics Systems, Time Critical ISHM and Advanced ISHM; 17) Testbeds and On-Board ISHM; 18) Testbed Requirements: RETS AND ISS; 19) Sustainable Development and Validation Process; 20) Development of on-board ISHM; 21) Taxonomy/Ontology of Object Oriented Implementation; 22) ISHM Capability on the E1 Test Stand Hydraulic System; 23) Define Relationships to Embed Intelligence; 24) Intelligent Elements Physical and Virtual; 25) ISHM Testbeds and Prototypes at SSC Current Implementations; 26) Trailer-Mounted RETS; 27) Modeling and Simulation; 28) Summary ISHM Testbed Environments; 29) Data Mining - ARC; 30) Transitioning ISHM to Support NASA Missions; 31) Feature Detection Routines; 32) Sample Features Detected in SSC Test Stand Data; and 33) Health Assessment Database (DIaK Repository).

Figueroa, Fernando↗
NASA NTRS2021

Test Bed for Investigating Anomalous Pump Behavior in a Single Phase Mechanically Pumped Flow Loop and Lessons Learned

NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is tasked with investigating the habitability of this icy moon of Jupiter and determining if it is capable of supporting life. The suite of powerful instruments necessary for this mission, combined with the harsh environment, require an elaborate single phase, mechanically pumped flow loop (MPFL) to redistribute waste heat around the spacecraft, thus minimizing energy requirements and avoiding the need for constant heating of the propulsion tanks. At the heart of this MPFL is a pump which will circulate fluid for the entirety of the 12-year mission; however, during initial qualification testing, anomalous behavior raised serious concerns regarding the pump and system design. Due to the critical nature of the pump, a major investigation was launched to evaluate the pump, system design, and the testing methodology employed to investigate this anomaly. This investigation resulted in a highly detailed analysis of the test loop, revised procedures, and the isolation/removal of variables impacting the quality of the observed pump behavior. The resulting test loop permitted comprehensive monitoring of the pump in the MPFL, including: flow rate, inlet and outlet static pressures, temperature, power consumption, and pump speed. Additionally, the investigation of the anomaly revealed several key lessons learned and helped institute a new set of best practices for future MPFL tests.

Miers, Collier↗
NASA NTRS2006

Deep Space Test Bed for Radiation Studies

A key factor affecting the technical feasibility and cost of missions to Mars or the Moon is the need to protect the crew from ionizing radiation in space. Some analyses indicate that large amounts of spacecraft shielding may be necessary for crew safety. The shielding requirements are driven by the need to protect the crew from Galactic cosmic rays (GCR). Recent research activities aimed at enabling manned exploration have included shielding materials studies. A major goal of this research is to develop accurate radiation transport codes to calculate the shielding effectiveness of materials and to develop effective shielding strategies for spacecraft design. Validation of these models and calculations must be addressed in a relevant radiation environment to assure their technical readiness and accuracy. Test data obtained in the deep space radiation environment can provide definitive benchmarks and yield uncertainty estimates of the radiation transport codes. The two approaches presently used for code validation are ground based testing at particle accelerators and flight tests in high-inclination low-earth orbits provided by the shuttle, free-flyer platforms, or polar-orbiting satellites. These approaches have limitations in addressing all the radiation-shielding issues of deep space missions in both technical and practical areas. An approach based on long duration high altitude polar balloon flights provides exposure to the galactic cosmic ray composition and spectra encountered in deep space at a lower cost and with easier and more frequent access than afforded with spaceflight opportunities. This approach also results in shorter development times than spaceflight experiments, which is important for addressing changing program goals and requirements.

Adams, James H.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Bench top interferometric test bed for LISA

Adaptive optics systems with Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors require reconstruction of the atmospheric phase error from slope measurements, with every sensor in the array being used in the computation of each actuator command. This fully populated reconstruction matrix can result in a significant computational burden for adaptive optics systems with large numbers of actuators. A method for generating sparse wavefront reconstruction matrices for adaptive optics is proposed. The method exploits the relevance of nearby slope measurements for control of an individual actuator, and relies upon the limited extent of the influence function for a zonal deformable mirror. Relying only on nearby sensor information can significantly reduce the calculation time for wavefront reconstruction. In addition, a hierarchic controller is proposed to recover some of the global wavefront information. The performance of these sparse wavefront reconstruction matrices was evaluated in simulation, and tested on the Palomar Adaptive Optics System. This paper will present some initial results from the simulations and experiments.

LISA↗
NASA NTRS2019

Characterization of a Photon Counting Test Bed for Space to Ground Optical Pulse Position Modulation Communications Links

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center (GRC) has developed a laboratory transmitter and receiver prototype of a space to ground optical communications link. The system is meant to emulate future deep space optical communication links, such as the first crewed flight of Orion, in which the transmitted laser is modulated using pulse position modulation and the receiver is capable of detecting single photons. The transmitter prototype consists of a software defined radio, a high extinction ratio electro-optic modulator system, and 1550 nm laser. The receiver is a scalable concept and utilizes a single-pixel array of fiber coupled superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. The transmit and receive waveforms follow the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) Optical Communications High Photon Efficiency Standard. This paper describes the transmitter and receiver prototypes as well as the system test configuration. System level tests results are presented and compared to predictions from software simulations.

Nappier, Jennifer M.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Examination of Communication Delays on Team Performance: Utilizing the International Space Station (ISS) as a Test Bed for Analog Research

Operational conjectures about space exploration missions of the future indicate that space crews will need to be more autonomous from mission control and operate independently. This is in part due to the expectation that communication quality between the ground and exploration crews will be more limited and delayed. Because of potential adverse effects on communication quality, both researchers and operational training and engineering experts have suggested that communication delays and the impact these delays have on the quality of communications to the crew will create performance decrements if crews are not given adequate training and tools to support more autonomous operations. This presentation will provide an overview of a research study led by the Behavioral Health and Performance Element (BHP) of the NASA Human Research Program that examines the impact of implementing a communication delay on ISS on individual and team factors and outcomes, including performance and related perceptions of autonomy. The methodological design, data collection efforts, and initial results of this study to date will be discussed . The results will focus on completed missions, DRATS and NEEMO15. Lessons learned from implementing this study within analog environments will also be discussed. One lesson learned is that the complexities of garnishing a successful data collection campaign from these high fidelity analogs requires perseverance and a strong relationship with operational experts. Results of this study will provide a preliminary understanding of the impact of communication delays on individual and team performance as well as an insight into how teams perform and interact in a space-like environment . This will help prepare for implementation of communication delay tests on the ISS, targeted for Increment 35/36.

Keeton, K. E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

VCE test bed engine for supersonic cruise research

Various design concepts for a variable cycle engine applicable to a supersonic, mixed mission propulsion system which would combine the merits of a turbofan at subsonic operating conditions with those of a turbojet for supersonic operating conditions are briefly examined. In particular the integration of the variable area bypass injector with the core driven (aft fan block) fan stage is discussed and the technical benefits of the configuration are summarized.

Vdoviak, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Characterization of point focusing test bed concentrators at JPL

The characterization data were measured using both a flux mapper and a cold water calorimeter. The flux mapper uses a Kendall Radiometer as the sensing device. It is mounted on an x, y, z motor-driven positioning mechanism that allows the sensor to take an x-y flux raster at several Z planes in the vicinity of the concentrators nominal focal plane. Various concepts were tried to protect the concentrator structure from being damaged by the Sun's energy during sun acquisition and deacquisition. A description of both the passive and active protective systems is presented.

Starkey, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Rapid Test Bed Concentrator (TBC) Alignment Techniques

A new, labor and cost saving method was developed to eliminate the procedure of covering all (220) mirrors and uncovering then one-by-one in sequence to adjust each to the focal plane. This latest method being used to align mirrors of a parabolic solar concentrator utilizes a computer-derived target of discreet images made up of individual mirror reflections on a plane in front of the intended, nominal, focal point. Incorporating this computer technique increases accuracy and gives potential to develop flux distributions required by different receiver designs.

Argoud, M. J.↗